The Cao Lau I grew up eating — memory as a review

I grew up eating Cao Lau and have strong opinions shaped by memory. The version here triggered that recognition in the first bite — the clean and deeply savoury was right, star anise broth was handled the way it should be.

Vietnamese cuisine shows French colonial influence alongside traditional Southeast Asian techniques. Growing up it was always a home cooking class, which shaped my reference point entirely. Vietnamese iced coffee alongside it is the only way it makes sense to me. It's hard to be objective about food you have emotional history with, but objectively: this is very good.